Medical electrical connector for flexible electrodes

ABSTRACT

A biomedical electrical connector that includes a lower body member and an upper actuator member is provided. The body member has a front end of a curvilinear configuration and a rear platform component. The platform component has guide ribs disposed on either side that extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. An actuator member has downwardly-projecting guide flanges on either side of a coupling portion that extend parallel to its longitudinal axis. Each flange includes a groove in its interior side of a complementary configuration to the guide ribs for slidably coupling the actuator substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. The actuator has a front end of a curvilinear configuration cantilevered from the coupling portion. A sinusoidal interface is defined between the actuator&#39;s curvilinear front end and the body&#39;curvilinear front end when the actuator is slid generally forwardly in relation to the body to an overcenter position. A portion of a flexible electrode may be frictionally engaged by the sinusoidal interface of the body and the actuator and brought into electrical contact with a terminal. Teeth of the terminal extend slightly into the portion of flexible electrode to prevent the connector from detaching from the flexible electrode and for conductively coupling the terminal to the electrode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention relates generally to medical electrical connectorsand, more particularly, to a low profile medical electrical connectorfor detachably coupling a flexible electrode to an electrical wire.

2. Description of Related Art

Biomedical electrodes are used for transcutaneous monitoring ofvariations in electrical potential associated with muscular activitysuch as a heartbeat and for grounding patients during electrosurgery.The medical industry has used a large number of electrical and electrodeconnectors for attachment to flexible substrate electrodes on patients.This field is relatively crowded and designs are usually controlled by,first, a requirement for a secure fastening of an electrode connector toan electrode, since it can be part of a life support system, second, bythe economics of providing a relatively inexpensive, reusable electrodeconnector, and third, by the need for an electrical connector that isrelatively easy to operate.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,125 is directed to a medical electrode connector forflexible substrate electrodes and includes a first base member having areceptacle and a second member movably attached to the first member andhaving a prong member of a configuration compatible with movement intothe receptacle. An electrical contact plate is provided on one of thereceptacle and prong members for providing an electrical contact withthe flexible electrode when the prong member is positioned on one sideof the electrode and the receptacle is positioned on the other side. Theprong member forces the electrode to be deformed and to be positionedwithin the receptacle, to thereby provide a positive locking electricalcontact.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,969 discloses a camming structure for providing anovercenter lock of a flexible electrode.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,143 discloses an electrode clip having a slideactuator that will cam a pivoting contact body to force a flexibleelectrode into contact with spring members to form an electricalcontact.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,408 discloses another form of overcentered togglemechanism for clamping a jaw member onto a flexible electrode.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,997 discloses a sliding actuator to close a springclamp onto a flat tabbed electrode.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,558 discloses an electrical connectorhaving an actuator that is slidable diagonally relative to alongitudinal passageway between an open position and a wedge positionfor holding a flexible electrode.

As can be appreciated, there exists a need for a reusable medicalelectrical connector that is inexpensive to manufacture and securelyattaches to flexible substrate electrodes of different designs andconfigurations. The prior art is still seeking to optimize such adesign.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved medical electrical connector that responds to the requirementsof a reusable low profile connector in an economical manner; and

It is another object of the invention to provide an electrical connectorthat may be easily attached by an operator to flexible thin biomedicalelectrodes of varying designs and configurations.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention areachieved by providing an electrical connector formed of two componentsthat can be readily manufactured by injection molding and assembledtogether. A lower body member has a front end with a curvilinearconfiguration for defining a first camming surface. The curvilinearfront end is cantilevered from a rear platform component that mounts anelectrical lead wire. The platform includes guide ribs disposed oneither side that extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bodymember.

A terminal is connected to the lead wire and includes a plurality ofteeth projecting outwardly from an apex of the first camming surface andadjacent to a notch in the first camming surface. The teeth extend awayfrom the body member's curvilinear front end at an acute angle to thelongitudinal axis of the body member.

An upper actuator component has downwardly-projecting guide flangeslocated on either side of a coupling portion that extend parallel to thelongitudinal axis. Each flange includes a groove in its interior side ofa complementary configuration to the guide ribs to slidably engage theguide ribs of the body platform, for slidably coupling the couplingportion of the actuator component substantially parallel to the bodymember. The actuator component has a curvilinear front end defining asecond camming surface. When the actuator is slid to a forwardmostposition in relation to the body member, the second camming surfaceextends over the center of the first camming surface for forming asinusoidal interface defined between the curvilinear front end of theactuator and the body member's curvilinear front end. A stop is disposedadjacent to the actuator's curvilinear front end for locking theactuator in the overcenter position.

A connector portion of a flexible electrode is placed between the frontend of the actuator and the front end of the body member when theactuator is in a retracted position. The actuator is then slid along alongitudinal axis to its forwardmost position with the respective frontends of the actuator and body member flexing to grasp the electrode. Theconnector portion of the flexible electrode is frictionally engaged bythe sinusoidal interface formed by the overcenter locking position, andbrought into electrical contact with the terminal. The teeth of theterminal will extend slightly into the electrode for enhancing theelectrical contact and will prevent the connector both from detachingfrom the flexible electrode and from rotating about the sinusoidalinterface. The configuration of the sinusoidal interface of theelectrical connector enables the electrical connector to attach to alarge number of flexible electrodes having different designs andconfigurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed tobe novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Thepresent invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation,together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the medical electrical connector;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the preferred embodiment in a closedposition;

FIG. 4 is a partial breakaway view;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a body of the preferred embodiment;and

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of an actuator of the preferredembodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled inthe medical electrical connector art to make and use the invention andsets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor for carrying outhis invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readilyapparent to those skilled in these arts, since the generic principles ofthe present invention have been defined herein.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a preferred embodiment of an electricalconnector 10, constructed according to the principles of the presentinvention, is shown. The electrical connector 10 comprises basically twocomponents, an actuator 12 slidably coupled along a longitudinal axis toa substantially flat elongated body 14.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a top perspective view of thebody 14 having a front end 16 of a curvilinear configuration. A topportion of the curvilinear front end 16 defines a first camming surface18. The first camming surface 18 has a notch 20 located in its centerregion. The body 14 may be molded from any suitable rigid medical gradeplastic, such as an ABS plastic. The body 14 may also be molded from anelectrically conductive medical grade plastic that is X-ray translucentto substantially reduce the electrical connector's image in any X-raypictures of a patient.

An electrically conductive terminal 22 is disposed on a top surface ofthe body 14. The terminal 22 extends from just beyond an apex 26 of thefirst camming surface 18 and along the length of the body 14. Theterminal 22 has a plurality of teeth 28 that project outwardly from thefirst camming surface's apex 26 and at an acute angle to thelongitudinal axis of the body 14. The teeth 28 are located adjacent tothe notch 20.

The terminal 22 is coupled to an electrical lead wire 30 at a second end32 of the body 14, for conducting electrical potential from a flexibleelectrode 31 (shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4) through the conductiveterminal 22, to a monitor (not shown). The lead wire 30 may enclose athin ribbon of copper that has been sized so as not to interfere withX-ray photography. The terminal 22 may be made of any suitableelectrically conductive material, such as beryllium, carbon, or copper.It may be desired to make the terminal 22 out of a suitable electricallyconductive, X-ray translucent material, so the terminal 22 will not alsointerfere with X-ray photography that may be performed on the patient.

A platform component 34 is cantilevered from the body's front end 16 andmade integral with the body's top surface. A portion of the terminal 22is interposed between the platform 34 and the body 14. A substantiallyrectangular cavity 36, having a back wall 37, is disposed in a centerregion of a front end 38 of the platform 34. The platform 34 includeselongated guide ribs 40 disposed on either side that extend parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the body 14. The platform component 34 may havea plate 42 disposed on a portion of its top surface to accommodate thelead wire 30 coupling to the terminal 22.

FIG. 6 shows a bottom perspective view of the actuator component 12 ofthe preferred embodiment. The elongated actuator 12 has a front end 48of a curvilinear configuration that defines a second camming surface 50.The second camming surface 50 is located adjacent to a bottom surface 52of the actuator 12. The second camming surface 50 includes a depression54 located in its center region. A stop member 56 is disposed adjacentto the second camming surface's depression 54. The stop member 56 mayhave a partially pitched bottom surface 58 to aid the attaching of theactuator 12 to the body 14. The stop member 56 also includes asubstantially flat front edge 60 that abuts the terminal's teeth 28 whenthe connector 10 is in the overcenter locked position. The actuator 12may be molded from any suitable rigid medical grade plastic that isX-ray transparent, such as ABS plastic.

A coupling portion 11 is cantilevered from the front end 48. Thecoupling portion 11 includes a downwardly-projecting, elongated flange62 disposed on either side. In the preferred embodiment, the guideflanges 62 are substantially the same length as the platform's guideribs 40. Each flange 62 has a rectangular groove 66 that extends thelength of its interior side 68 to the rear end 64. The grooves 66 are aconfiguration complementary to the ribs 40 to slidably engage the ribs40 for slidably coupling the actuator 12 substantially parallel to thebody 14.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the coupling portion's flanges62 may have guide ribs that extend the length of the interior sides 68.The platform 34 may then have grooves disposed on either side thatextend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body 14. Thisconfiguration would enable the actuator 12 to slidably couplesubstantially parallel to the body 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, the connector 10 is in its openposition (shown in FIG. 2). The open position is defined by sliding theactuator 12 rearwardly, until the stop member 56 abuts the back wall 37of the platform's cavity 36. A portion 29 of the conductive flexibleelectrode 31 is placed between the body's front end 16 and theactuator's front end 48. The actuator 12 is then slid forwardly with therespective front ends 16, 48 of the body 14 and actuator 12 flexing asthe camming surfaces 18, 50 coact to grasp the electrode's portion 29,until the second camming surface 50 extends beyond the apex 26 of thefirst camming surface 18. When the actuator 12 is slid to itsforwardmost position in relation to body 14, the second camming surface50 extends over the first camming surface's apex 26. A substantiallysinusoidal interface is defined between the second camming surface 50and first camming surface 18 when the actuator 12 is in the overcenterposition or locking position.

As seen in FIG. 4, with the connector 10 in the closed position, thestop member's front edge 60 forces the electrode's portion 29 into thenotch 20, while the electrode 31 is frictionally engaged between thesecond camming surface 50 and the first camming surface 18. The stopmember 56 maintains the actuator 12 in the overcenter locking position.Thus, the first and second camming surfaces 18, 50 frictionally engagethe conductive flexible electrode 31 and bring it into electricalcontact with the terminal 22. The terminal's teeth 28 extend slightlyinto the electrode's portion 29 to enhance electrical contact andprevent the connector 10 from detaching from the electrode 31. Theterminal's teeth 28 and frictional engagement by the first 18 and second50 camming surfaces also prevent the electrode from rotating about thesinusoidal interface that may result in instrumental artifact when theconnector 10 is attached to the electrode 31.

The conductive electrode's portion 29 may be released from the connector10 by sliding the actuator 12 rearwardly, to the open position, thusdisengaging the teeth 28 from the electrode's portion 29 and releasingthe conductive portion 29 from its assumed sinusoidal configuration.

A plurality of ridges 70 may be disposed latitudinally across a topsurface 72 of the actuator 12 and a bottom surface 74 of the body 14.The ridges 70 aid in gripping the connector 10 when sliding the actuator12 for opening and closing the connector 10.

The body's first end 16 and actuator's front end 48 enable theelectrical connector 10 to attach to a number of different flexibleelectrodes of varying designs. The slidable configuration of theelectrical connector 10 result in a connector that is low profile, thusnot a discomfort t patients, and a connector that is easy to use by asimple sliding action.

While the above features of the present invention teach method,apparatus, and an improved electrical connector, it can be readilyappreciated that it would be possible to deviate from the aboveembodiments of the present invention and, as will be readily understoodby those skilled in the art, the invention is capable of manymodifications and improvements within the scope and spirit thereof.Accordingly, it will be understood that the invention is not to belimited by the specific embodiments, but only by the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A biomedical electrical connector for a flexibleelectrode comprising:means for conducting electrical potential; a bodyassembly for holding the conducting means, the body assembly including afirst camming means of a substantially convex protrusion extendingsubstantially across a width of a front end thereof, and actuator means,slidably coupled to the body assembly, for detachably connecting theelectrical connector to the flexible electrode, the actuator means beingslidable substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bodyassembly, the actuator means including a second camming means of asubstantially convex protrusion extending substantially across a widthof a front end thereof, the first and second camming means capable ofinteracting to provide an overcenter locking position while deforming aportion of the flexible electrode interposed between the body assemblyand the actuator means when the actuator means is slid to a forwardmostposition in relation to the body assembly, for attaching the electricalconnector to the flexible electrode and to conductively couple theflexible electrode to the conducting means.
 2. The biomedical electricalconnector of claim 1, wherein the body assembly includes a rear platformcomponent having guide ribs disposed on either side that extendsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body assembly. 3.The biomedical electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the actuatormeans has a coupling portion that extends parallel to a longitudinalaxis thereof, the coupling portion including elongateddownwardly-projecting guide flanges disposed on either side, each flangehaving a channel in an interior side complementary to the configurationof the guide ribs to slidably engage the guide ribs of the platformcomponent for slidably coupling the actuator means substantiallyparallel to the body assembly.
 4. The biomedical electrical connector ofclaim 3, wherein the first and second camming means defining asubstantially sinusoidal interface between the front end of the actuatormeans and the front end of the body assembly when the actuator means isslid generally forwardly in relation to the body assembly, the secondcamming means extending over the first camming means to an overcenterposition, and the sinusoidal interface deforming the portion of theflexible electrode by frictionally engaging the portion of the flexibleelectrode.
 5. The biomedical electrical connector of claim 4, whereinthe conducting means comprises a flat terminal disposed on a top surfaceof the body assembly and interposed between the body assembly and theplatform component, and the terminal has a plurality of teeth projectingoutwardly from a center of an apex of the first camming means and at anacute angle to the longitudinal axis of the body assembly forconductively coupling the terminal to the flexible electrode when theelectrode is frictionally engaged in the sinusoidal interface.
 6. Thebiomedical electrical connector of claim 5, further including a notchlocated in the center region of the first camming means, a cavitylocated at a center region of a front end of the platform componentadjacent to the front end of the body assembly, and a stop means affixedto a bottom surface of the actuator means adjacent to a center region ofthe second camming means, the stop means abutting a back wall of acavity when the actuator means is slid generally rearwardly in relationto the body assembly for limiting the rearward horizontal travel of theactuator means in relation to the body assembly, and abutting theplurality of teeth of the terminal when the actuator means is slidgenerally forwardly in relation to the body assembly to extend a portionof each of the plurality of teeth into the flexible electrode toconductively couple the terminal to the flexible electrode.
 7. Thebiomedical electrical connector of claim 6, wherein the terminal iscoupled to a conductive lead wire for outputting electrical potential.8. A medical electrical connector for a flexible electrode, comprising:abody member including a platform component having a guide rib disposedon either side extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axisof the body member; a layer of conductive material disposed on the bodymember and interposed between the body member and the platformcomponent; an actuator member having downwardly-projecting guide flangesdisposed on either side of a coupling portion, each guide flange havinga groove in an interior side of a complementary configuration to theguide ribs to slidably engage the guide ribs of the platform componentfor slidably coupling the actuator member substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the body member, and couple means provided on afront end of the body member and a front end of the actuator member fordetachably coupling the connector to a flexible electrode, including afirst protrusion extending across a width of the front end of the bodymember defining a first camming surface, and a second protrusionextending across a width of the front end of the actuator memberdefining a second camming surface, the first and second camming surfacesdefining a sinusoidal interface between the front end of the actuatormember and the front end of the body member when the actuator member isslid generally forwardly in relation to the body member, the secondcamming surface extending over the first camming surface to anover-center position, the sinusoidal interface frictionally engaging aportion of the flexible electrode to prevent the connector fromdetaching from the flexible electrode.
 9. The medical electricalconnector of claim 8, wherein the layer of conductive material comprisesa flat terminal affixed to a top surface of the body member andinterposed between the body member and the platform component, theterminal having a plurality of teeth projecting outwardly from a centerregion of an apex of the first camming surface at an acute angle to thelongitudinal axis of the body member for conductively coupling theterminal to the flexible electrode when the electrode is frictionallyengaged by the sinusoidal interface.
 10. The medical electricalconnector of claim 9, further comprising a notch located at a centerregion of the first camming surface and a cavity located at a centerregion of a front end of the platform component adjacent to the frontend of the body member, and a stop member affixed to a bottom surface ofthe actuator member adjacent to a center region of the second cammingsurface, the stop member abutting a back wall of the cavity when theactuator member is slid generally rearwardly in relation to the bodymember for limiting the rearward horizontal travel of the actuatormember in relation to the body member, and abutting the plurality ofteeth of the terminal when the actuator member is slid generallyforwardly in relation to the body member to extend a portion of each ofthe plurality of teeth into the flexible electrode to conductivelycouple the terminal to the flexible electrode.
 11. The medicalelectrical connector of claim 10, wherein the terminal is connected to aconductive lead wire to output electrical potential.
 12. The medicalelectrical connector of claim 11, wherein the terminal comprises anelectrically conductive, X-ray translucent material
 13. The medicalelectrical connector of claim 12, wherein the body member and actuatormember comprise rigid, X-ray transparent, medical grade plastic.
 14. Themedical electrical connector of claim 13, wherein a plurality of ridgesare latitudinally disposed on a bottom surface of the body member and atop surface of the actuator member.
 15. A biomedical electricalconnector for a flexible electrode, comprising:a body member including arear platform component having guide ribs disposed on either sidethereof that extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of thebody member; a conductive terminal disposed on the body member andinterposed between the body member and the platform component, theterminal having a plurality of teeth projecting outwardly from an apexof a curvilinear front end of the body member and at an acute angle tothe longitudinal axis of the body member, and an actuator member havinga coupling portion and a front end of a curvilinear configurationcantilevered from the coupling portion, the coupling portion includingdownwardly-projecting guide flanges disposed on either side, each flangehaving a groove in an interior side of a configuration complementary tothe guide ribs to slidably engage the guide ribs of the platformcomponent for slidably coupling the actuator member substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the body member, a sinusoidalinterface being defined between the front of the actuator member and afront end of the body member when the actuator member is slid generallyforwardly in relation to the body member until the front end of theactuator member extends over the front end of the body member to anovercenter position, the front ends of the actuator member and the bodymember flexing to accommodate the curvilinear configurations thereof;whereby, when a portion of a flexible electrode is placed between thefront end of the actuator member and the front end of the body memberand the actuator member is slid to its overcenter position, the portionof flexible electrode is frictionally engaged by the sinusoidalinterface of the body member and the actuator member and brought intoelectrical contact with the terminal, the teeth of the terminalextending into the portion of electrode to electrically couple theelectrode to the terminal and to prevent the connector from detachingfrom the flexible electrode.
 16. The biomedical electrical connector ofclaim 15 wherein the terminal comprises an electrically conductive,X-ray translucent terminal and is connected to a conductive lead wirehaving a substantially thin ribbon of copper extending therethrough foroutputting electrical potential.
 17. The biomedical electrical connectorof claim 16 wherein the body member comprises a rigid, electricallyconductive, X-ray translucent, medical grade plastic and the actuatormember comprises a rigid, X-ray transparent, medical grade plastic. 18.The biomedical connector of claim 17 wherein a plurality of ridges aredisposed on a bottom surface of the body member and a top surface of theactuator member.
 19. A medical electrical connector, comprising:a flatelongated body member including a substantially convex protrusionextending across a width of a front end defining a first cammingsurface, the first camming surface disposed on a top surface of the bodymember and having a notch disposed in its center region, the body memberincluding a platform located on the top surface that extends from a backend of the body member towards the front end of the body member andincludes a notch located in a center region of a front end of theplatform adjacent to the front end of the body member, the platformincluding a guide rib disposed on either side that extend parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the body member; an electrically conductiveterminal disposed on a top surface of the body member extendingsubstantially from an apex of the first camming surface and along thelength of the body member, the terminal having a plurality of teethprojecting outwardly from the apex of the first camming surface adjacentto the notch and at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the bodymember, the terminal coupled to an electrical wire adjacent to the backend of the body member; an elongated actuator member having a convexprotrusion extending across a width of a front end of a bottom surfacedefining a second camming surface, the first and second camming surfacesdefining a sinusoidal interface between the front end of the actuatormember and the front end of the body member when the actuator member isslid to a forwardmost position in relation to the body member, thesecond camming surface including a depression in its center of aconfiguration complementary to the projecting teeth, the actuator memberhaving a stop member disposed adjacent to the depression in the secondcamming surface, the actuator member including a coupling portioncomprising a pair of downwardly-projecting elongated flanges, one eachdisposed on either side of the actuator member and extending from a backend of the actuator member towards the front end, each flange having agroove in an interior side extending along its length to slidably engagethe guide ribs of the platform for slidably coupling the actuator membersubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body member,whereby, when a portion of a flexible electrode is placed between thefront end of the actuator member and the front end of the body memberand the actuator member is slid to its forwardmost position, the portionof flexible electrode is frictionally engaged by the sinusoidalinterface of the body member and the actuator member and is brought intoa sinusoidal configuration with the teeth of the terminal extending intothe portion of electrode to prevent the connector from detaching fromthe flexible electrode and for conductively coupling the electrode tothe terminal.